Katharina Elberti

May 2014

Opinion Piece | 6

Debate of Monetary Compensation for NCAA Athletes

The Northwestern University football team unionization has
reignited discussion on whether student-athletes deserve monetary
compensation for their participation in NCAA sports programs.
Its an individuals choice to play sports in college, no one forces
them, assistant director of Virginia Tech Recreational Sports, Alan
Glick, said. They know what theyre signing up for, and they know the
dedication its going to require.
The Northwestern football teams decision to unionize was
described as a bomb to the heart of college footballs amateurism
rules by SB NATION columnist, Patrick Vint. Many believe the decision
could lead to a significant change to college athletics in general.
One of the biggest arguments in favor of paying college athletes
is that the players are the ones taking the risks and putting themselves
physically and mentally on the line every day, but receiving no
salary for their efforts.
However, the experience of playing on a college team itself is
valuable, working much like internships for other students.
Many athletes argue that because of their participation in sports
they are unable to get part-time jobs to support their expenses.
According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association website,

college athletes are already receiving scholarships that cover tuition,

fees, room, board and textbooks. Universities should not be required
to dole out even more finances in order to satisfy the extracurricular
needs of their athletes.
While this type of scholarship is not offered to all college
athletes, many still receive a considerably larger amount of financial
aid than the average student. If universities started paying college
athletes, it would be incredibly unfair to their peers who work hard just
to make ends meet.
I think it would have been nice to be paid but the thing is, where
do you draw the line? former Virginia Tech mens basketball player,
Marcus Travis, said. If they decided to start paying [athletes], football
players would obviously make the most money, but how would they
decide how much to pay everyone else?
Travis was a member of the Virginia Tech mens Division I
basketball team from 2005 to 2007. As a walk-on player he received
no monetary compensation for playing.
Even if they decided to pay us, the government would have to
tax the money or monitor it in some way, Travis said. I just dont
think its realistic.
Adding money into an already difficult, life-changing decision will
not only complicate the college decision process, but also potentially
sway student-athletes into making a collegiate choice based on pay

rather than personal development or quality of education. A great deal

of politics are involved in sports that the average 17-year-old and 18year-old high school students may not fully comprehend when they are
attempting to make such an important decision.
For all intents and purposes, the majority of college athletic
programs are essentially nonprofit, Glick said. All of the other small
sports wouldnt survive if it wasnt for all the money being generated
by bigger programs such as football and mens and womens
basketball.
According to the Radford University Highlanders Athletics
website, the institution decided to discontinue four varsity sports
programs swimming and diving, field hockey, mens indoor track and
field, and mens outdoor track and field in order to fund the addition
of a womens lacrosse program.
In a statement given to WSLS10, Radford University Director of
Athletics Robert Lineburg stated that in order to remain competitive in
the Big South Conference the university was encouraged to add the
womens lacrosse team.
If universities were to start paying college athletes, it would
broaden the gap between small and large university athletic teams
even more. Large schools with more revenue such as the University of
Alabama would essentially be able to buy the best players for their
teams, putting smaller universities at a greater disadvantage.

According to the ESPN College Athletics Revenues and Expenses report

from 2008, the Alabama Crimson Tide football program brought in total
revenues of $123.8 million. The Radford University Highlanders
football program was not even ranked among the 120 teams.
NCAA college sports programs and the athletes who choose to
participate in them should not revolve around money. Athletes should
focus on their passion for whatever sport they play, and be grateful
they receive the aid they do.
Unfortunately, college athletics are almost becoming as
distasteful as the pros, Virginia Tech senior and avid college football
follower, Marshall Beyer, said.
By providing college athletes monetary compensation for playing
sports for their university, not only does it create a divide between
students and student-athletes, but runs contrary to the values of
higher education and ideals and values of amateur athletics.

Audience:
People who are interested in college sports
Who are associated with Division level collegiate athletics
Who have an opinion on whether division level collegiate athletes
should receive monetary compensation